FIVE things we learned about the Adelaide Crows in their trial match against Fremantle.

WHAT WE LEARNED

1. Pencil Brad Crouch in for Round 1.

The beauty of the Crows youngster is he rarely forces anything.

He almost always makes the smart, simple play and it won't be long before outside runners like Patrick Dangerfield, David Mackay and Matt Jaensch begin feeding off him because he's unselfish almost to a fault.

He had 15 disposals by half-time yesterday and his pass inside 50 to set up Brodie Martin's second goal was all class. He looks capable of making the step up from the SANFL with ease.

2. Tex needed the run.

It certainly wasn't vintage Taylor Walker yesterday as the big fella shook off a bit of rust in his first serious hit-out this summer. Walker began the game by over-running a worm-burning pass, before dropping a mark in the goal square.

He made amends by finding Josh Jenkins by hand for the Crows only goal of the first term but followed it with a poor set shot after the siren.

After dropping a chest mark to start the second Walker hit his straps, taking a contested mark against Zac Dawson in the middle before turning provider again by handing a goal to Shaun McKernan.

3. The search for the next Doughty continues

Luke Brown is being given every opportunity to make the role his, but given his inexperience Adelaide will likely have to wear a few lumps early in the season if he's given the job on the opposition's most dangerous small forward.

Brown was exposed early by Michael Walters yesterday but settled in the second term and won an important battle with Nick Suban in the third which resulted in an Ian Callinan goal. Rory Laird and Cameron Ellis-Yolmen played in the back half.

4.There'sno real bolters.

Aside from Crouch and Brown there aren't many other fringe players bashing the door down for a game in Round 1.

Richard Tambling, Tim McIntyre, Tom Lynch, Sam Kerridge and Jarryd Lyons didn't do anything to seriously enhance their chances yesterday and Angus Graham isn't doing enough around the ground to suggest he's worth playing in the same side as Sam Jacobs.

Luke Thompson was solid and will challenge Andy Otten and Sam Shaw for the third tall defensive role.

Mitch Grigg, Ellis-Yolmen and debutant Rory Atkins need more time. Lewis Johnston looked much better in the second half when Walker had left the field and he became more of a focal point.

Whether he can survive when he's on the periphery remains to be seen.

5. The result was a little misleading.

Don't read too much in to the Crows' nine goal to three second half and five point win. Adelaide rotated 30 players through yesterday's game while Fremantle only played 25.

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